Regulator For Dynamo—Electric Machines



(No Model.)

N. TESLA.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. No. 350,954. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

WM WWO W040 (762%,

N, PETERS. P|wm-Lilh0graphcn WashmglomD. C,

NlllOllix GUCSLA,

TESLA i JAY, h'lulV TERSEY.

STATES PATENT @FFICE;

OF SliiLJAN LIKA, AUSTRIA- TUNGARY, ASSIGNOR TO THE ERECTRDU lilGHT AND MANUFACTURING (TOUP: KY, OF RAH- TJR i-GR DYNAMO-ELECT IiQ iviAGi-iiiaES.

' A pplieniion filed January H, 1850. Serial No. 189,539. (No model.)

ZZO aZZ who? it iiuzg concern:

file it known that .l', NIKOLA lisi1.-\, from Smiljan Lilca, border country ot'Austria-Hungary, have invented certain Improvements in Dynamo-Elcetric .lt'achines, of which the tol lowing is a specification.

in other applications 3' have shown the com mutator of a dynaino machinc with the main brushes connected in an electric circuit, and one or more auxiliary brushes serving to shunt a part or the whole of theiield-coils, the regulation of the current being effected by shifting the respeetivebrnshcs automatically upon the commutator in proportion to the varying rcsisi'anccs of the circuit.

My present in cntion relates to the mechanical devices which I employ to effect the shifting ot' the brushes,

lily invention is clearlyshown in the accompauying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the regulator with the frame partly in section; and 2 is a section at the line m, Fig. 1,

C is the commutator; and B, the brushliolders, B carrying the main brushes a a and B the auxiliaryor shunt brushes '1) I), The axis of the brush-hold er Bis supported by two pivot-perms, pp. The other bruslehoh'ler, B, has sleeve, 1?, and is movable around the axis of the brnslrholder B. In this way both brush-holders can turn very freely, the friction of the parts being reduced to a minimum. Over the brush-holders is mounted the solenoid )5, which rests upon forked column, 0. This column also ailords a support for the pivots pp, and is fastened upon a solid bracket or uojection, l", which extends from the base ofthe machine, and is preferably cast in one piece with thesnmc. The brush-holders l3 B are connected by means ot'thelinks c eand the cross-piece F3 to the iron core I, which slides freely in thetube T of the solenoid. Theiron corei has a screw, a, by means ol' which it can be raised and adjusted in its position relatively to the solenoid, so that the pull ex erted upon by the solenoid is practically uniform through the whole length of mo iion which is required to effect the regulation. In order to ell'cct the adjustment with a greater precision the core I is provided with a small iron screw, s. The core being first brought very nearly in the required position relatively to the solenoid by means of the screw s, the small screw s is then adjusted until the magnetic attraction upon the core is the samewhen the core is in any position. A convenient stop, '1, serves to limit the upward movement of the iron core.

To check somewhat the movement ol' the core I, a dash-pot, K, is used. The piston L of the dash-pot is provided with a valve, V, which opens by a downward pressure and al* lows an easy downward movement of the iron core I, but closes and checks the movement of the core when the same is pulled up under the action of the solenoid.

To balance the opposing forces, the weight of the moving parts, and the pull exerted by the solenoid upon the iron core, the weights XV XV may be used. The adjustment is such that when the solenoid is traversed by the normal current it is just strong enough to balance the downward pull of the parts.

. The electrical circuit-connections are substantially the same, as indicated in my former applications, the solenoid being in series with the circuit when the translating devices are in series and in a shunt when the devices are in multiple are.

The operation of the device is as follows: \Vhen. upon a decrez se of the resistance of the circuit or some other reason the current is in creased, the solenoid S gains in strength and pulls up the iron core I, thus shifting the main brushes in the direction of rotation and the 85 auxiliary brushes in the opposite way. This diminishes the strength of the current until the opposing forces are balanced and the solenoid is traversed by the normal current; but if from any cause the current in the circuit is diminished, then the weight of the moving parts overcomes the pull of the solenoid, the iron core I descends, thus shifting thebrushes the opposite way and increasing the current to the normal strength. The dash-pot con- 5 nected to the iron core I may be of ordinary construction; but I prefer, especially in machines l'or are lights, to provide the piston of the dash-pot with a valve, as indicated in 'the drawings. This valve permits a comparatively easy downward movement of theiron core, but checks its movement when it is drawn up by the solenoid. Such an arrangement has the advantage that a great number of lights may be put on without diminishing the light-power of the lamps in the circuit, as the brushes assume at once the proper position. When lights are cut out, the dash pot acts to retard the movement; but if the current is considerably increased the solenoid gets abnormally strong and the brushes are. shifted instantly.

The regulator being properly adj usted,lights or other devices may be put on or out with scarcely any perceptible difference.

It is obvious that instead of the dash-pot any other retarding device may be used.

I claim as my inveution- 1. The combination, with the main and auxiliary brushes, of two brush-holders, an axis fastened to one of the brush-holders, supporting-screws for the same, a support for the other brush-holder surrounding the axis, a solenoid, a core for the same, and links connecting the core to the respective brush-holders, substantiall y as set forth.

2. The combination,withthebrushes,brushholders, and the axis upon which the brushholders swing, of a solenoid and core, connections from the same to the brush-holders, and an adjusting-screw to limit the movements of the core, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the brush-holders and their axes, of a solenoid and core, and a connection from the core to the brush-holders, and an iron screw at the inner end of the core to adjust the action of the magnetism on the core, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the brushes, the brush-holders and their axes, of a solenoid and core, and connections to move the brush-holders, and a dash-pot provided with a valve, substantially as described, to diminish the speed of movement of the core in one direction more than the other, substantially as set NIKOLA TESLA.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. T. PINOKNEY; WILLIAM G. Mom. 

